Diver controlled salvage bell



June 1, 1943. c; M. 2014. Y 2,320,696

DIVER CONTROLLED SALVAGE BELL Filed July 15; 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l June 1, 1943. c. M. zou.

DIVER CONTROLLED SALVAGE BELL Filed July 15, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2" 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 1, 1943. c. M. ZOLL DIVER CONTROLLED SALVAGE BELL Filed July 15, 1 941 uuvuu lllllllll\\l!u.l nm UH Huh llllllllllllllllliKillIlillllJIJiillllllilllllllllltlldl.IWliHi m Q Ir a q I I1 I m V h.

June 1, 1943. c. 'M. ZOLL DIVER CONTROLLED SALVAGE BELL Filed ul 15, 1941 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mum-Inn Car /.ZOZZ,

x L mmmmlmagn Ill Patented June 1, 1943 DIVER CONTROLLED SALVAGE BELL Carl M. Zoll, Dundalk, Md, assignor to Universal Hydraulic Stress Equalizer, Inc, Dundalk,

Application July 15, 1941, Serial No. 402,533

12 Claims.

This invention relates to diving bells and has special reference to an electro-hydraulically operated diving bell preferably called a diver controlled salvage hell. 7

In the salvaging of ships, as by the apparatus shown and described in my application for patent for Hydraulic stress equalizer, filed April 23, 1941, Serial Number 389,974, it is necessary to engage hoisting hooks with the hull of a sunken ship and it is often necessary to cut holes in the ships sides in order to provide for such engagement of the hooks. While for certain more or less shallow depths of water such operations may be performed by a diver in an ordinary diving suit, for greater depths the strain on the divers physique makes it difiicult for him to Work but a short time and it is impossible for him to perform any work or even descend below a very limited depth. Ordinary diving bells suspended from a tender at the surface may, it is true, carry a diver to It is one principal object of the present inven-- tion to provide improved diving bell apparatus which may be electro-magnetically attached to a sunken hull at the will of the diver and while so attached may be caused by the diver to perform three dimensional movements. That is, the diver may cause the bell to move up and down, toward and from-the sunken ship and right and left along the ship.

A second important object of the invention is to provide hydraulic mechanisms controllable by the diver in the bell for effecting such movements.

Athird important object of the invention is to provide an improved diving bell apparatus whereby the bell may be operated readily at depths K greater than those at which a diver can work in an. ordinary suit.

In using a diving bell in such depths as those at which a diver can Work in a rubber suit itsometimes happens that it is desirable for the diver to leave the bell and return thereto.

.It: is a fourth" important object of the inventionto provide an improved diving bell provided with. means whereby a diver mayleave and enter theribell, while the latter is under water, without flooding the bell or changing the bell.

It is sometimes desirable to leave and enter such a bell at depths at which the pressure on the diver is 'sufliciently great enough to produce what is known as bends if the pressure is too rapidly reduced. In using an ordinary dress the pressure at any but very shallow depths is gradually reduced by raising the diver very slowly to the surface. This takes much time and, when the water is cold, the diver reaches the surface in a thoroughly chilled and exhausted condition.

It is a fifth important object of the invention to provide a novel form of diving bell having an exit pressure in the and entrance chamber for underwater use, the

chamber being associated with means whereby the pressure therein due to the depth at which the bell is being used may be so controlled after a diver enters from the outside that it may be reduced as slowly as desired thereby preventing bends and enabling the diver to attain normal air pressure without exposure to chilling.

A sixth important object of the invention is to provide a novel bell construction having an exit and entry chamber in which the pressure may be controlled both by a diver in the chamber and by a diver in the body of the bell and provided with a window between the chamber and bell body so that a diver in the latter can control the pressure in the chamber in case the diver in the chamber is physically unable to attend to the control himself.

With the above and other objects inview, the V invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. f

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus and showing the side facing away from the ship showing only the bell supporting frame and being taken from the side opposite Figure 1.

Figure '7 is an enlarged section through the bell and chamber on the line '!'i of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a detail vertical section taken through a portion of the bell and decompression chamber used herein, the view showing the Water valve for the decompression chamber.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 but showing the air exhaust and inlet valve for the chamber.

Figure 10 is a similar view showing the decompression valve and its control.

Figure 11 is a detail vertical section showing the arrangement of a bulls-eye Window in the door between the bell body and chamber.

Figure 12 is a face view of the control board within the bell body and also disclosing the oil pump and oil sump in said bell body.

Figure 13 is a view showing the bell and socket joint for mounting an oxy-acetylene or other similar blow-torch in the bell body wall.

Figure 14 is a diagram illustrating the several jacks and carriages used in the invention and the arrangement of the piping and control valves.

Figure 15 is a schematic view of one of said control valves.

Figure 16 is a schematic view of an auxiliary device used in tilting the bell and its supporting parts for work under an overhanging side of a b ship.

Figure 17 is a detail partly in elevation and partly in section and showing the joint arrangement for certain jack sections used in this invention.

1 In the form of the invention here disclosed there is provided at each end of the device an end member indicated generally at I and which may be of any desired vertical length. Each member has its upper and lower ends of rectangular tubular form and in the top and bottom of each-member I9 is fixed a clamp casting l having a bore l2 extending therethrough and split to provide a pair of jaws l3 which may be drawn towards each other by clamping bolts l4. In. each bore I2 is slidably fitted a tubular bar or arm l5. Associated with each arm I5 is an electro-magnet [6 of the waterproof type and of'such strength that the four magnets thus providedwill properly support the entire apparatus when energized and in contact with the hull of a steel ship. Each magnet I16 is provided with a centrally disposed shank I! having a ball at its free end fitting in a socket l8 formed at the end ofthe respective arm [5. Thus each magnet is connected to its arm by a ball-and-socket joint so that the magnet has universal swinging movement with respect to the arm. A conductor cable l9 leads from the magnet through its arm and to a control in the bell as will be presently described. By means of this construction the bars or arms may be adjusted as desired and then secured in adjusted positions by tightening the bolts It. Also the universal joints permit the magnets to take positions conforming to the shape of the hull of a ship.

Between the upper and lower sections of each member ID is fixed a transverse rectangular tubular member indicated generally at 20. The outer side of each member 20 is closed by a plate 2| which extends above and below the member 2:]. and is fixed, as by welding or riveting to the member I 8 to assist in bracing the parts. The inner side of the member 20 is similarly braced to'the member I!) by a pair of plates 22 which have spaced parallel edges to provide a slot 24 extending longitudinally from one end to the other of the member 29. The plates 2i and 22 are connected by end plates 23. In each member 29 is a carriage 24 slotted to receive grooved wheels 25 and supported in the slots by shafts or pins 25. The upper and lower walls 21 of the member 20 are provided with half-round tracks 28 on which the wheels 25 run. There are two pair of upper wheels 25, the pairs being spaced longitudinall of the member 20 and the lower wheels 25 are similarly arranged. Thus the carriage 24 may roll freely from a position near one end of the member 20 to a position near the other end of said member but is prevented from tilting in any direction. A shank 23 is formed integrally with the carriage and extends through the slot 24 for purposes presently to be described. Arranged on the longitudinal axis of each member 20 is a pair of telescopic hydraulic jacks 30 each consisting of a series of tubular members slidable one within another. One end of each jack is fixed against a plate 23 while the other end is fixed against a corresponding'side of the carriage 24 and into the latter end opens a supply passage 3| which extends through the carriage 24 and shank 29. In Figure 3 the carriage 24 has been shown in its furthest position to the right or toward a ship. If now oil be supplied to the right hand jack 30 and allowed to escape from the left hand jack the former will expand and the latter collapse so that the carriage will move to the left or away from the ship. Obviously by checking the supply and exhaust the carriage may be stopped in any desired position and, should the carriage be away from its present position, it may be moved to the right by supplying oil to the left hand jack 30 and exhausting the right hand jack.

In connection with the members I0 and 20 there is provided a rectangular frame positioned between the said members and having end members indicated in general at 32, and top and bottom members indicated in general at 33. The end members 32 are of rectangular tubular form and the outer wall of each member is provided with a slot 34 through which extends the shank 29. Within the member 32 the shank 29 is provided with an integral carriage 35, the carriages 24 and 35 thus forming a single rigid structure which may move in and out along the'member 20 but cannot move vertically. The carriage 35 is slotted to receive grooved rollers 36 as in the carriage 24 but in this instance the rollers are disposed to bear laterally on pair of half-round tracks 31 carried by the outer and inner wall of the member 32. The member '32 is closed at its upper' and lower ends by walls 38 and between these walls and the carriage 35 extend telescopic hydraulic. jacks 39. The jacks 39 are similar to the jacks 30 but, since the members 32 are longer than the members 20 in order to give required vertical movement to the carriages 35, the jacks 39 are, arranged to give the required greater movement of the members 32. This may be done, as shown in Figure 5, by making the jack sections longer or the number of sections may be increased as will be understood presently from the description of the members 33.. Each member 32has its inner wall provided with a longitudinal slot 40 and a pipe connection boss 4| is formed on the carriage 35 and extends through the'slot 43. e The jacks 39are connected by passages 42 extending through this-boss to flexible oil pipes 43 the passages 3| also being continued through the carriage 35 and boss 4| and connected to flexible oil pipes 44. The operation of the jacks 39 is similar to that of the jacks 30. That is, when it is desired to raise the frame relative to the carriage 35 oil is fed into the upper jacks 39 and allowed to flow from the lower jacks and when it is desired to lower the frame oil passes from the upper jacks and enters the lower jacks.

Each of the frame members 33 is of rectangular tubular form and each is provided with a longitudinal slot 45 in its inner wall, the slots extending from one member 32 to the other. Movable longitudinally in each member 33 is a carriage 46 supporting shafts or trunnions 41 whereon are mounted grooved wheels 48. The lower wall of each member 33 is provided with half-round tracks 49 on which the wheels 48 run. Between each end of each member 33 and its carriage 46 is a telescopic hydraulic jack and these jacks act to move the carriages to the right and left in a manner corresponding to the action of the jacks and 39, oil passages 5| being provided in the carriages for the supply and exhaust of oil. The carriages 46 have neck portions 52 and these portions form seats for the ends of a bell body 53 which is of substantially circular crosssection and is provided with semi-spherical ends the better to resist water pressure at the depths to which the bell may descend. The necks 52 pass through the slots 45 and, by the action of the jacks 50, the bell body may be moved right and left.

It has been stated that the telescopic jacks used in this invention each consists of. a series of sections. In order to illustrate the manner in which these sections are slidably connected the connection between two of these joints'is shown typically in Figure 17. In this figure there is shown one end of an outer section 54 and the interfitting end of an inner section 55. The section 54 is provided with an internal flange or lip 55 fitting closely around the body of the section 55. The inner end of the section 55 is provided with an external flange or lip 51 fitting closely in the section 54. The lips 56 and 51 coact to limit outward movement of the section 55 with respect to the section 54. At its extremity the section 54 is provided with a stufiing-box 58 of the usual type. The section 55 thus has fluid tight connection with the section 54.

The side of the device which faces the ship is shown in Figure 6 and on this side the bell body 53 is provided withsuitably disposed bulls-eye' ports or windows 59 and flood lights 60 to enable the diver within the bell body to properly observe the sunken ship. Also this side of the bell body carries an oxyacetylene or other torch 6! suitable for underwater work.. The manner in which this torch is mounted for swinging movement in any direction within limits is shown in Figure 13. Here the wall of the bell body 53 is shown as provided with an opening 62 in which lies a spherical enlargement 63 formed on the outer tube 64 of the torch, the inner tube being shown at 65. Segmento-spherical socket members 55 are fixed on the body wall and embrace those portions of the enlargement or ball-B3 which project from the opening 62 and fit closely in said ball. Thus swinging movement of the torch in any direction may be obtained. Suitable packing may be used for rendering the joint water tight as indicated at 61. Also, a hook or other tool 68 may be mounted similarly to the torch for purposes ofmanipulating the hoisting hook of theaforesaid application and for any other desirable use. It will further be noted on Figure 6 that the flexible pipes 43 and 44 extend to connecting bosses 69 on the sides. of the bell body 53 so that the jacks 30 and 39 may be controlled, by means presently to be described, from within the bell body. A jet nozzle 10 extends downwardly and forwardly from the lower part of the bell body to enable a strong stream of water or air to be directed against the sea bottom to wash accumulated mud or sand away from the ship thus lightening the adhesion of the ship to the bottom.

On the upper fro-nt'side of the bell body, as best seen in Figure l, is a junction box H which receives the pipes and electric cables used in supply in air, gas and electricity from the salvage hull or tender to the interior of the bell for the various requirements incident to its use. These instrumentalities include an air inlet 12 for supplying fresh air to the diver or divers and an air outlet 13 for carrying ofi impure air, a high pressure air supply line 14, an oxygen supply pipe .15 and a gas supply pipe 16 for the torch, a cable II for the operating supply conductors and a cable 18 for the telephone and alarm wires.

Fixed to the bell body on the side away from the ship is a chamber structure 19 which is used for entrance to and exit from the bell body and is so constructed and arranged as to be capable of use under water so that a diver clad in a proper diving dress may leave the bell for work that cannot be performed from within the bell and may return and enter the bell body without admitting water therein. To this end the bell body is provided with an opening surrounded by a door frame 89 leading into the chamber 81 of the struc ture 79. In this frame is fitted a door 82 of the bank vault type so arranged that pressure of air or water in the chamber!!! only urges the door to more tightly seal in the door opening thus preventing entry of Water into the bell body when the door is closed. Obviously, whenever there is water in the chamber 8| the door will be closed. This doorway is just above the working floor 83 of the bell body and below this floor is a sump 84' for reception of a supply of oil to be used in thejacks. In the front wall of the structure 19 is a door opening provided with a door 85 similar to plicity in the disclosure, such locking means has.

been indicated at 86 as a single swinging clamp operable from eitherside of the door. 'Inthe door is provided a bulls-eye port or window 81.

best shown in Figure 11 and a similar port 88 .is provided in the door 85. A water inlet and outlet pipe 89 is fixed in the bottom of the chamber 8|- and is provided with a control valve 90 having a stem 9! which extends up towards the top of the, chamber 8! and is provided with a hand Wheel 92 for operating the valve from Within the chamber 8|. In order to operate this valve from within the bell body a horizontal shaft or stem 93 is connected to the stem 9! by bevel gearing 94. This shafts extends through a stufiing box 95 into, the bell body and is there provided with a hand wheel; At the top of the chamber 8| is an air inlet.

valvefit which has a stem .99 provided Withaiv hand wheel I80. The stem 99 passes through a stuffing box IIII into the bell body and is there provided with a hand wheel I92. Near the top of the chamber 8| is also a bleeder pipe I03 which extends into the bell body. A valve lfi l controls this pipe and has a stem I05 passing through a stufling box I05 and provided with hand wheels I01 and I08 in the chamber 8| and bell body respectively". The pipe I03 carries, within the bell body, a regulating" valve I09 of the type used to control drop in fluid pressure per unit of time, the valve being capable of being set to any desired drop per the time unit. This valve is so positioned Within the bell body that it may be observed by a diver in the chamber 8| through the port 81 and by a diver in the bell body. On the door 82 is a plug socket I I0 for the telephone line of a divers helmet. As will now be explained, the chamber 0| not only serves as an entrance and exit chamber but also serves as a decompression chamber. As an example of the use of this chamber 8| let it be supposed that the bell is in 150 feet of water and a diver desires to leave the bell. He puts on his dress, opens the door 82, steps into the chamber III and closes and locks the door. Next he opens the valves 90 and 98 to such an extent that water will flow into the chamber and air flow out at such rates that pressure in the chamber will not increase too rapidly for comfort. When the chamber is full of water up to the inlet of the valve 98 the diver closes the latter; Next he closes the valve 90. At this time pressure within the chamber will be equal to that outside the apparatus. The diver, having previously connected his helmet telephone to the socket IIO may now open the door 85 and leave the chamber 8|. On his return he first closes and locks the door 85 and opens the sea valvetll. Next he opens the valve Ifi l. Now the arrangement of the valve I39 is such that it controls the speed of flow in either direction, the flow into the chamber 8| being obtained from a pipe I I I leading from the high pressure pipe I4. The valve I09 is set for rapid flow by the diver in the bell body acting, if desired by direction of the diver in chamber 8| over his telephone. Consequently the high air pressure will force the water out through the valve 99. The air pressure in the chamber 8| will now be somewhat greater than the external water pressure and it will be obvious that if this pressure is too rapidly lessened the diver in the chamber 8! will be subject to bends. Accordingly, before changing the valve I09 to allow flow from the chamber 8| this valve is set for a slow rate of fiow that the pressure will drop so gradually that bends will not be produced, the valve Iii-I being closed while the change of the valve m9 is effected. When the valve IE4 is again opened air will flow gradually out of the chamber until the pressures within the chamber and bell body will be equalized whereupon the door 82 may be opened and the diver may enter the bell body. It is to be noted that the provision of valve operating means both in the chamber 8| and in the bell body ensures safety since there will always be a diver in the bell body who can observe his companion in the chamber SI and, 1f the latter shows signs of distress and is unable to manipulate the valves this may be done by the one in the bell body. 'It is also to be noted that the provision of this underwater decompression chamber relieves the diver from a slow passagev upwards through cold water since the chamber 8| will, as soon as the water is driven out be filled with air and an electric heater may be provided for warming this air if desired.

In the bell body is located a control board II2. Behind this board'are valves H3, H4 and H5 controlling respectively the front and back, the up and down and the right and leftjacks 30, 39 and 50. On the floor 83 is a motor driven pump H6 lifting oil through a pipe III and supplying to the said valves through a pipe H8. Exhaust from these valves is delivered to the sump 84 through a pipe I I9. From these valves lead pipes 44' which-communicate with the pipes 44and thus to the jacks 30; pipes 43' which communicate with the pipes 43 and thus to the jacks 39 and pipes 5| which communicate with the passages 5| and thus to the jacks 50. Taking, for example, the valve I I 5 as diagrammed in Figures 14 and 15 it will be seen that by rotating the plug 5' through f the left pipe 5| will be connected to v the outlet pipe 9 and the right hand pipe 5| to the supply pipe II8. Thus these valves will effect movement of the carriages in the desired direction.

On the board I I 2 are also mounted an air pressure gauge I20, a similar gauge I2I to indicate the pressure in chamber 8| and an oil pressure gauge I22. There are valves I23 and I24 for the oxygen and gas lines, a flood light switch I25, a heater switch I25, a motor switch I2'I controlling the circuit wires I28, an alarm switch I29, a light switch I36 and four switches I3I for the four magnets I6. A telephone I32 is carried on the board. I Other valves, switches and gauges may be used in this connection as may be found desir-' able or convenient in the actual operation of the invention.

It often happens that a ship heels over after sinking so that one side forms an overhanging surface too greatly inclined for the apparatus above described to swing to proper position for service if supported from the top as by chains I33 (Figure 1) In such case-the auxiliary apparatus shown in Figure 16 will be used. In this sea bottom. A frame I34 suspended by chains I35 has a second frame I36 swinging from its upperedge portion. This frame I36 supports the bell device above described and here indicated in general at B on arms I31 and crossbars I38. Pivoted intermediate its ends to the lower part of the frame I34 is a bent lever I39 carrying at its lower end a roller I40, which bears against the frame I38. attached a cable I4I led upwards to the salvage ship by a roller I 42 carried by a rearward extensionof the frame I34. With this arrangement pulling on the cable I4I will bias the lever I39 and the roller I40 will act to swing the lower part of the frame I36 away from the frame I34 until the apparatus B is brought into substantial par allelism to the side s so that the magnets I6 may engage the hull.

In using this bell the divers enter the bell body 53 above water. The bell is then lowered so as to bring; it .to the desired position close to the side of the'sunken vessel, the frame being preferably centered vertical of the members I0 and hori'-' zontally of the members 23 and the bell bodyicentral between the end members of the frame. This lowering and positioning is directed by one of the divers; from the bell body over the telephone.

To the upper end of the lever I39 isplace at Whichthe first hole is to be cut and the hole is out. When this operation is finished the bell body is shifted laterally, the second hole cut and the operation of cutting and shifting is repeated until the desired number of holes have been cut. The bell body is then backed away from the ship and the hoisting hooks lowered and manipulated until they are directly in front of the cut holes. They are then pushed into these holes and the hoisting cabl tautened until the hooks engage so they cannot swing out. The entire bell apparatus is then shifted along the ships hull until a position is reached for cutting a second set of holes with the foregoing operation. The operations of shifting, cutting holes and engaging the sets of hooks is repeated until all holes are cut and all hooks engaged whereupon the bell apparatus is hoisted and the way is clear for hoisting the sunken ship.

Obviously, if it is necessary or desirable for a diver to leave the bell body this may be done as above described.

What is claimed, is:

1. In salvaging bell apparatus, a bell body, a frame surrounding said body and having the body mounted therein for lateral movement between the frame sides, supporting means for the frame, said frame having vertical and horizontal movements between said supporting means, electromagnetic means for securing the supporting means on a ship hull, actuating means for effecting the movement of the body in the frame and for effecting the movements of the frame, and means within the bell body controlling operation of said actuating means.

2. In salvaging bell apparatus, a pair of sup porting members, a vertical frame supported from said members for horizontal and vertical movements with respect to said members, a bell body carried within the frame and supported thereby for lateral movements between the frame sides, electro-magnetic means for securing said members to a ship hull, actuating means effecting the movements of the frame and bell body, and means within the bell body controlling the actuating means.

3. In salvaging bell apparatus, a pair of vertical supporting members, a carriage structure associated with each member and mounted for movement at right angles to the member, said carriage structures projecting laterally toward each other from each member, a frame having side members mounted on the projecting portions of said carriage structures for vertical movements relative thereto, said frame having top and bottom members, bell body carriages mounted in the top and bottom members and movable longitudinally thereof, a bell body fixed to said last carriages for movement therewith, actuating means for moving the carriage structures relative to the supporting members, the frame relative to the carriage structures and the bell body carriages along the frame, and means within the bell body for controlling said actuating means.

4. In salvaging bell apparatus, a pair of vertical supporting members provided at their upper and lower ends with electro-magnets for attachment of said members to a ship hull, a trackway carried by each member and extending transversely thereof to lie horizontally, a pair of carriages movable on said trackway and extending therefrom toward each other, the extending portions forming a, second pair of carriages, a frame having vertical side members provided with trackways for the second pair of carriages, said frame having horizontal top and bottom members provided with trackways, a third pair of carriages movable along the last mentioned trackways, a bell body having its upper and lower ends fixed to the third pair of carriages, actuating means for moving said carriages, and means within the bell body for controlling said actuating means.

5. In salvaging bell apparatus, a bell body, a frame surrounding said body and having the body mounted therein for lateral movement between the frame sides, supporting means for the frame, said frame having vertical and horizontal movements between said supporting means, electro-magnetic means for securing the supporting means on a ship hull, hydraulic jacks for effecting the movement of the body in the frame, other hydraulic jacks for effecting the several movements of the frame, and valves in said bell controlling the actuation of said jacks.

6. In salvaging bell apparatus, a pair of'supporting members, a vertical frame supported from said members for horizontal and vertical movements, a bell .body carried within the frame and supported thereby for lateral movements between the frame sides, electro-magnetic means for securing said members to a ship hull, hydraulic jacks for effecting horizontal movement of the frame, hydraulic jacks for effecting vertical movements of the frame, other hydraulic jacks for effecting movement of the bell body in the frame, and valves in said bell body controlling actuation of the jacks.

7. In salvaging bell apparatus, a pair of vertical supporting members; a carriage structure associated with each member and mounted for movement at right angles to the member, said carriage structures projecting laterally toward each other from each member, a frame having side members mounted on the projecting por tions of said carriage structures for vertical movements relative thereto, said frame having top and bottom members, bell body carriages mounted in the top and bottom membersfand movable longitudinally thereof, a bell body fixed to said last carriages for movement therewith, hydraulic jacks carried by the supporting members and engaging opposite sides of the carriage structures for movement of the latter on said members, hydraulic jacks carried by the frame and engaging said carriage structures for moving the frame relative to the carriage structures, other hydraulic jacks engaging the bell body carriages for moving the bell body in the frame, and

valves in said bell body controlling the action of the hydraulic jacks.

8. In salvaging bell apparatus, a pair of vertical supporting members provided at their upper and lower ends with electro-magnets for attachment of said members to a ship hull, a trackway carried by each member and extending transversely thereof to lie perpendicular, a pair of carriages movable on said trackway and extending therefrom toward each other, the extending portions forming a second pair of carriages, a frame having vertical side members provided with trackways for the second pair of carriages, said frame having horizontal top and bottom members provided with trackways, a third pair of carriages movable along the last mentioned trackways, a bell body having its upper and lower ends fixed to the third, pair of carriages, hydraulic jacks'extending along said trackways in aligned pairs, the jacks of each pair engaging opposite sides of a respective carriage,

and valves in said bell body controlling the action of said jacks.

9. In salvaging bell apparatus, a bell body, a frame surrounding said body and having the body mounted therein for lateral movement between the frame sides, supporting means for the frame, said frame having vertical and horizontal movements between said supporting means, electro-magnetic means for securing the supporting means on a ship hull, hydraulic jacks for effecting the movement of the body in the frame, other hydraulic jacks for effecting the several movements of the frame, an oil supply sump in said bell body, a motor driven pump receiving oil from the sump, conduit means connecting the jacks in pairs of opposed units to the sump and pump, and reversing valves for selectively connecting a selected jack of each pair to the pump and the other jack of the pair to the sump.

10. In salvaging bell apparatus, a-pair of supporting members, a vertical frame supported from said members for horizontal and vertical movements with respect to said members, a bell body carried within the frame and supported thereby for lateral movements between the frame sides, electro-magnetic means for securing said members to a ship hull, hydraulic jacks for effecting horizontal movement of the frame, hydraulic jacks for effecting vertical movements of the frame, other hydraulic jacks for effecting movement of the bell body in the frame, an oil supply sump in said bell body, a motor driven pump receiving oil from the sump, conduit means connecting the jacks in pairs of opposed units to the sump and pump, and reversing valves for selectively connecting a selected jack of each pair to the pump and the other jack of the pair to the sump.

11. In salvaging bell apparatus, a pair of vertical supporting members, a carriage structure associated with each member and mounted for movement at right angles to the member, said carriage structures projecting laterally toward each other from each member, a frame having side members mounted on the projecting portions of said carriage structures for vertical movements relative thereto, said frame having top and bottom members, bell body carriages mounted in the top and bottom members and movable longitudinally thereof, a bell body fixed to said last carriages for movement therewith, hydraulic jacks carried by the supporting members and engaging opposite sides of the carriage structures for movement of the latter on said members, hydraulic jacks carried by the frame and engaging said carriage structures for moving the frame relative to the carriage structures, other hydraulic jacks engaging the bell body carriages for moving the bell body in the frame, an oil supply sump in said bell body, a motor driven pump receiving oil from the sump, conduit means connecting the jacks in pairs of opposed units to the sump and pump, and reversing valves for. selectively connecting a selected jack of each pair to the pump and the other jack of the pairto the sump.

12. In salvaging bell apparatus, a pair of vertical supporting members provided at their upper and lower ends with electro-magnets for attachment of said members to a ship hull, a trackway carried by each member and extending transversely thereof to lie perpendicular, a pair of, carriages movable on said trackway and extending therefrom toward each other, the extending portions forming a second pair of carriages, a frame having vertical side members provided with trackways for the second pair of carriages, said frame having horizontal top and bottom members provided with trackways, a third pairof carriages movable along the last mentioned trackways, a bell body having its upper and lower ends fixed to the third pair of carriages, hydraulic jacks extending along said trackways in aligned pairs, the jacks of each pair engaging opposite sides of a respective carriage, an oil supply sump in said bell body, a motor driven pump receiving oil from the sump, conduit means connecting the jacks in pairs of opposed units to the sump and, pump, and reversing valves for selectively connecting a selected jack of each pair to the pump and the other jack of the pair to the sump.

CARL M. ZOLL. 

